PFI:AIR - TT: Novel Low-power III-Nitride Heater Cantilever Based Selective VOC Sensor

该PFI: AIR技术翻译项目专注于翻译新型微悬臂式加热器的发现，以满足对超低功耗高灵敏度和选择性挥发性有机化合物（VOC）传感器的需求。这些挥发性有机化合物传感器非常重要，因为它们对环境保护和室内空气质量监测有很大影响，直接影响到人类的健康和福祉。该项目将开发出一种商业上可行的新型VOC传感器原型，该传感器以小型化手持设备的形式封装。该挥发性有机化合物传感器具有高灵敏度和选择性检测单个和混合物中的挥发性有机化合物的独特功能，并且可以在低加热器温度下工作，无需催化剂涂层。这些特点提供了在复杂环境中更快、独特的VOCs检测、更低的功耗、更高的可靠性和使用寿命等优势，与目前市场上领先的基于pellistor和光电离的传感器相比。该项目解决了以下技术差距，因为它从研究发现转化为商业应用。待开发的VOC传感器将解决：(i)当前技术无法对分析物进行选择性检测，（ii）由于加热器温度高而对工作功率的要求更高，以及由于使用激光或催化剂涂层而导致的工作寿命较短。所提出的VOC传感器的独特功能组合，包括低加热器温度，缺乏催化剂涂层，以及利用其物理特性选择性VOC检测，使其能够解决上述当前技术的局限性。此外，参与该项目的研究生和本科生将通过参与与商业化直接相关的项目活动和工业伙伴的指导，获得创业和技术翻译经验。该项目与Tangidyne公司合作，指导传感器开发的商业化方面，并为参与这项从研究发现到商业现实的技术转化工作的研究生和本科生提供独特的商业指导。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating the discovery of novel microcantilever heaters to fill the need for highly sensitive and selective volatile organic compound (VOC) sensors with an ultra-low power requirement. These VOC sensors are important because of their strong impact on environmental protection and indoor air quality monitoring which has direct influence on human health and well-being. The project will result in the development of a commercially viable prototype of a novel VOC sensor packaged in the form of a miniaturized handheld device. This VOC sensor has unique features of high sensitivity and selective detection of VOCs individually and in mixtures, and operation at low heater temperature without catalyst coating. These features provide the advantages of faster and unique detection of VOCs in a complex environment, much lower power consumption, and higher reliability and operational lifetime, when compared to the leading competing pellistor and photo-ionization based sensors currently available in this market space. This project addresses the following technology gap(s) as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. The VOC sensor to be developed will address: (i) the inability of the current technologies to perform selective detection of analytes, (ii) higher operational power requirement due to high heater temperature, and low operational lifetime due to usage of a laser or catalyst coating. A combination of unique features of the proposed VOC sensor, including low heater temperature, lack of catalyst coating, and selective VOC detection utilizing their physical properties, enables it to address the aforementioned limitations of the current technology. In addition, the personnel involved in this project, at both graduate and undergraduate levels, will receive entrepreneurship and technology translation experiences through participation in the project activities directly related to commercialization and mentorship from the industrial partner. The project engages Tangidyne Inc. to guide the commercialization aspects of the sensor developed, and provide unique business mentorship to the graduate and undergraduate students involved in this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.